JP2594502B2 - Automobiles with under vehicle object detection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile equipped with an under-vehicle object detecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For transportation by courier service or the like, there is a large luggage compartment 2 extending to the rear in consideration of workability, and a truck 1 capable of freely moving between the luggage compartment 2 and the cabin 3 is used. Often.

[0003] During the delivery to an apartment complex, a private house, or a shopping street, the driver delivers the luggage while delivering the luggage.
Will be parked on roads or other densely populated areas.

[0004] A child gets under the car of the stopped lorry 1 by play such as hide-and-seek, forgets to put a toy such as a tricycle under the car, and furthermore, animals or the like enter under the car in some form. There are many cases where the driver restarts the engine while resting, leading to an accident.

[0005] Such an accident can be prevented if the inspection before the start is carefully performed. However, the truck 1 of the type shown in FIG. 6 is of a type in which there is only one driver and no assistant. The car 1 is taller as a whole due to its shape, and has poor visibility.

[0006]

In conventional trucks, little attention has been paid to intruders under such stopped vehicles. Even if the vehicle does not enter under the vehicle, an infant or an object that is low in the portion of the front bumper 5 at the front overhang 4 and close to the vehicle body is difficult for the driver to see. The vicinity of the rear bumper 7 of the rear rear overhang 6 can be confirmed by the rear view mirror 8, but this is because the corners of the front bumper 5 particularly become blind spots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, and to detect an object under a vehicle which is often overlooked by a driver during daily operation and prevent an accident from occurring. However, if such an object is present, the engine will not operate.On the other hand, once the engine is started, the vehicle with the under-vehicle object detection device with improved safety by ignoring the output from the sensor will be used. To provide.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a pair of light sensors formed by a combination of a light emitter and a light receiver is provided at a tip of a front overhang in a vehicle width direction.
In addition, one set in the vehicle width direction at the rear end of the rear overhang, and one set each on the left and right along the longitudinal direction of the body, avoiding a part with the tire that controls the direction, a total of four sets, at appropriate intervals An arrangement is made so that the flow of light surrounds the underside of the vehicle body, an ultrasonic sensor is provided at the corner of the front bumper, and the outputs of the optical sensor and the ultrasonic sensor are introduced to the control device. It has a storage unit for storing the output and a reset switch for erasing the storage of this storage unit and canceling the alarm state. The output of the control device is introduced to an alarming means and an engine circuit for making an alarm, and the sensor output is output. If there is, an alarm is given when the engine is started, the engine is not started, and the control device gives priority to this engine drive after starting the engine, It is an Abstract that make control of the engine circuit to ignore the output of the Nsa.

[0009]

According to the present invention, one set of optical sensors formed by a combination of a light emitter and a light receiver is arranged in the vehicle width direction at the front end of the front overhang and one set in the vehicle width direction at the rear end of the rear overhang. In addition, regarding the left and right sides of the vehicle body, avoid a part of the front tire which is a tire that performs direction control in the case of a rear wheel drive vehicle, the rear tire in the case of front wheel drive, the front wheel in the case of four wheel drive, The light sensor is arranged avoiding both rear wheels. In this way, the light sensor
Except for a certain part of the directional control tire, the distance between the transmitter and receiver should be adjusted so that the directional control tire changes its angle and thereby does not block the light sensor between the transmitter and receiver. As appropriate, the light flow is arranged so as to surround the periphery of the lower surface of the vehicle body. Therefore, when there is an intruder or intruder under the vehicle, the light flow is blocked and the light sensor detects this, and the storage unit of the control device stores the output of this sensor. Then, when the engine is started, the notification means is activated by the output of the control device to warn that an intruder or an intruder has entered the vehicle, and the engine is not started.

[0010] Also, when there is a person or an object near a corner of the front bumper within several tens of centimeters (for example, about 20 cm) within a certain angle range, the ultrasonic sensor also detects this and controls the engine when it is started. The warning means is activated by the output of the device, and the engine does not start.

When there is such an alarm, the driver performs a visual inspection, and if no abnormality is found, pressing the reset switch erases the memory in the storage unit, cancels the alarm state, and starts the engine. Become like

On the other hand, when the engine is driven, even if an object or the like flies and enters under the floor, the detection of the sensor is ignored, and the driving of the engine is given priority and the operable state is continued. The same applies when an object approaches the corner of the front bumper.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a left side view showing an embodiment of an automobile equipped with an under-vehicle object detection device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a right side view of the same, FIG.
Is a front view.

Various types of automobiles are conceivable. As an example, there is the same freight car 1 as the conventional example, and there is a large luggage compartment 2 extending to the rear.
The luggage compartment 2 and the cabin 3 can be freely moved back and forth.

According to the present invention, an optical sensor 9 composed of a combination of a projector 9a and a light receiver 9b is arranged around the lower surface of the body of the truck 1 as shown in FIG. At the front end of the rear overhang 6, and at the rear end of the rear overhang 6, one set in the vehicle width direction. A total of four sets are provided, one set each on the left and right, along the rear end in the length direction.

In this manner, the optical sensor 9 is arranged such that the flow of the light flows around the lower surface of the vehicle body, except for a certain portion of the front tire 10 which is a tire for controlling the direction, with an appropriate interval between the light emitter 9a and the light receiver 9b. It is arranged to surround.
This is because the angle of the front tire 10 is changed as a tire for controlling the direction, and there is a possibility that the front tire 10 may block between the light projector 9a and the light receiver 9b of the optical sensor 9. In the case of front-wheel drive, the rear tires are tires that control the direction, and in the case of four-wheel drive, both front wheels and rear wheels are tires that control the direction.

An ultrasonic sensor 11 is provided at a corner of the front bumper 5. This ultrasonic sensor 11
Has a sensing range angle of about 50 ° and a sensing distance of about 20 cm.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram, in which 12 is an IC.
It is a control device by a circuit, has a storage unit 12a, has a reset switch 13 and an operation check switch 14, and is connected to an ACC power supply.

The four sets of optical sensors 9 have a projector 9a connected to a power supply 16 connected to a power switch 15;
The light receiver 9 b is connected to the control device 12 via the amplifier 17 and the delay 18.

The ultrasonic sensor 11 includes a transmitting section 11c and a receiving amplifier 11b connected to an ultrasonic generating circuit 11a.
The receiving amplifier 11b is connected to the control device 12 via the delay 18.

Further, the operation check lamp 1 is
9, an alarm sound generator 20a and an alarm lamp 20b as notification means, and a power relay 21 as an engine circuit. The power relay 21 is a relay for connecting the engine key 23 and the starter motor 24.

In this way, the outputs of the optical sensor 9 and the ultrasonic sensor 11 are introduced into the control device 12, and the storage unit 12a of the control device 12
The reset switch 13 cancels the output of the sensors 9 and 11 in the storage section 12a, and outputs a command to activate the alarm sound generator 20a and the alarm lamp 20b. This is to cancel the alarm state by eliminating the signal.

When the operation check switch 14 is turned on, the same state as when the output of the optical sensor 9 or the ultrasonic sensor 11 is output is caused in the control device 12. Lights up,
Activate the alarm sound generator 20a and the alarm lamp 20b.

After the engine is started, that is, after the starter motor 24 is started by the engine key and the engine is driven, the control device 12 gives priority to this engine drive and ignores the outputs of the sensors 9 and 11. As a result, the power relay 21 cannot be controlled.

Next, the operation and usage will be described. First, when the power switch 15 which is a main switch is turned on at the start of work, the optical sensor 9 and the ultrasonic sensor 1 are turned on.
1 is in a detectable state.

Therefore, the operation check switch 14 is turned on,
The operation of the alarm sound generator 20a and the alarm lamp 20b is confirmed, and if they operate normally, the reset switch 1
Press 3 to release these actions.

Start the engine. During traveling, even if an object or the like flies, the optical sensor 9 and the ultrasonic sensor 11 do not sense, and the alarm sound generator 20a and the alarm lamp 20b do not work.

For example, a truck 1 on a road or other densely populated area
If the engine stops to stop the vehicle and there is something entering under the vehicle body when the driver is leaving the vehicle, the light between the light emitter 9a and the light receiver 9b of the light sensor 9 is blocked, and the light sensor Reference numeral 9 denotes an output state, which is input to the control device 12 and stored in the storage unit 12a.

Also, even when something comes close to the corner of the front bumper 5, the ultrasonic waves emitted from the transmitting section 11c connected to the ultrasonic generating circuit 11a are reflected by this object and enter the receiving section 11d. The output from the ultrasonic sensor 11 is similarly stored in the storage unit 12a.

When the driver returns and turns the engine key to start the engine again, the alarm sound generator 20a is output from the control device 12 based on the storage in the storage section 12a.
Is activated to generate a synthesized voice saying "Please check.", And the alarm lamp 20b is turned on. Further, since the power relay 21 is turned off and the starter motor 24 does not rotate, the engine does not start.

The driver is informed by the warning sound of the warning sound generator 20a and the warning lamp 20b that the driver should take precautionary measures, and performs a check such as getting off the vehicle or going around the vehicle.

If no abnormality is found by the inspection,
Press the reset switch 13. This reset switch 1
By 3, the output of the sensors 9 and 11 in the storage unit 12a is deleted, and the alarm state is canceled by eliminating the command signal for operating the alarm sound generator 20a and the alarm lamp 20b. Then, since the engine is ready to start, the starter motor 24 is turned by the engine key 23 to start the engine.

When the optical sensor 9 and the ultrasonic sensor 11 do not detect anything, the engine can be started without any warning.

When the delivery operation is completed and the lorry 1 is put in the garage and stopped, the power switch 15 as the main switch may be turned off.

[0035]

As described above, the vehicle equipped with the under-vehicle object detection device according to the present invention can be used accurately in a daily operation such as a vehicle carrier or a courier service when the driver has an object under the vehicle which the driver tends to overlook. By detecting this, accidents can be prevented beforehand, and if such an object is present, the engine should not be started, while once the engine is started, the output from the sensor should be ignored. And improved safety.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view showing one embodiment of an automobile with an under-vehicle object detection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view showing an embodiment of an automobile with an under-vehicle object detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing one embodiment of an automobile with an under-vehicle object detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of sensors.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an automobile with an under-vehicle object detection device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Truck 2 ... Luggage room 3 ... Cabin 4 ... Front overhang 5 ... Front bumper 6 ... Rear overhang 7 ... Rear bumper 8 ... Rearview mirror 9 ... Light sensor 9a ... Floodlight 9b ... Light receiver 10 ... Front tire 11 ... Super Acoustic wave sensor 11a ... ultrasonic wave generating circuit 11b ... receiving amplifier 11c ... transmitting unit 11d ... receiving unit 12 ... control unit 12a ... memory unit 13 ... reset switch 4 ... operation check switch 15 ... power switch 16 ... power supply unit 17 ... amplifier 18 ... Delay 19 ... Operation check lamp 20a ... Alarm sound generator 20b ... Alarm lamp 21 ... Power relay 23 ... Engine key 24 ... Starter motor

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A pair of light sensors formed by a combination of a light emitter and a light receiver are arranged in the vehicle width direction at a front end of a front overhang, and in a vehicle width direction at a rear end of a rear overhang. Aside from the part where the tires are to be made, four sets, one set each on the left and right along the longitudinal direction of the car body, a total of four sets are arranged at appropriate intervals so that the light flow surrounds the bottom of the car body, and the corner of the front bumper An ultrasonic sensor is provided in the unit, and the outputs of the optical sensor and the ultrasonic sensor are introduced into the control device, and the control device erases the alarm state by deleting the storage unit for storing the output of the sensor and the storage of the storage unit. A reset switch is provided, and the output of the control device is introduced into an alarming means and an engine circuit, and if a sensor output is present, the output is alarmed when the engine is started. In addition, after the engine is started, the control device controls the engine circuit to give priority to this engine drive and ignore the output of the sensor. Car.